Ecstasy, guns, marijuana seized during arrest of felon

Berkeley Police officers have arrested an Oakland man with three prior convictions after finding him with dozens of ecstasy pills, a loaded stolen handgun, marijuana packaged for sale and six altered credit cards, according to court documents.

Police arrested Jamar McClain, 31, on Feb. 1 after executing a search warrant and probation search at McClain’s home in Oakland.

A Berkeley Police captain declined to comment on exactly what led the agency to arrest McClain, but said criminal investigations in Berkeley often lead investigators outside the city limits.

“I’d like to make it really clear that Berkeley crimes drive our investigations, regardless of where we end up,” said police Capt. Andrew Greenwood, via email.

The handgun had been reported stolen in December 2011, according to police.

According to court documents detailing the reasons for the arrest, a police sergeant said he also found several text messages in McClain’s phone “that indicated he is selling ecstasy and marijuana.”

The Alameda County district attorney’s office has charged McClain with six felonies, including possession for sale of ecstasy and marijuana; possession of an assault weapon, identified as an SWD Mac 11 Assault Pistol; and two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon.

McClain was first convicted in Alameda County in 2000 of felony possession of cocaine, according to court documents. In March 2011, he was convicted of two felony second degree commercial burglary charges, one in Alameda County and one in Contra Costa County.

McClain is scheduled to appear Monday at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in downtown Oakland to designate an attorney and enter a plea. He is being held with a bail of $335,000 at Santa Rita Jail.

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I can vouch for the fact that Berkeley PD executes search/arrest warrants outside the city limits. I saw them executing a warrant in my neighborhood once, and I don’t live in Berkeley. Once a judge signs off on a warrant, I don’t believe they need to notify local LE, although I’m guessing they often do as a courtesy.

y_p_w

It could be they still need to run checks on it. Could be stolen from out of state and/or a straw purchase.

PragmaticProgressive

I wonder who this guy’s associates are and if BPD will go after them. His current and past activity list includes a lot of things that require accomplices.